Second Trip (March 12, 2006):
One day at the Sunshine Wall (crowded).
Party In.. - Shirley's lead.
Crossing The Threshold - Shirley's lead. Fun route.
Tangled Up In Blue - Fun route but short.
George & Martha - had to take on it once cause I'm weak. Not sure if it deserves the 4 stars (definitely 3 though :)

First Trip (March 6,7 2004):
First visit there for me and my wife. Started off with a day at The Feathers. The bolted face climbs surprised us - climbs were relatively steep, with huge positive holds but pumpy on the forearms (radically different than face climbs at Smith of same grade). Day two was spent at the Sunshine Wall where we managed two trad climbs....before rescuers ordered everyone off the cliffs since there was going to be a heli pick up (someone got hurt - don't know details). Here's our list to date:

The Feathers:
Jesus Saves 5.8 - one or two balancy moves.
The Uprising 5.8 - tricky friction move (for short people :)
Altar of Sacrifice 5.7 - nothing special
Shake It Don't Break it 5.5 - first bolt high, easy ground though
The Becky Route 5.7
Ruffled Feathers 5.7
Feather in My Cap 5.5
Don Coyote 5.8 - the best route of the day for us (very pumpy on the forearms)

Stayed here for a DMB concert, managed to get in some quality sport climbing before the show. First time at vantage, looks like a lifetime of rock to climb. Did one route at the Feathers, a few additional routes at Sunshine wall. Good times!

First visit to Vantage for my husband and I; we absolutely enjoyed it. What a cool place! Loved the rock--the endless positive holds for both hands and feet. Conditions were exceedingly windy on Saturday, March 20th, but that did not stop us from enjoying ourselves.

We started on the Feathers the first day, climbing:

Updrafts to Heaven (5.5)--fun

Notch Climb (5.6)

So Funny I Forgot to Laugh (5.9)--nice climb

Medicine Man (5.10A)--very fun climb, great holds

Don Coyote (5.8)--very fun; great clipping stances

Dance of the Shaman (5.10B)--awesome route with fun traverse to the right off of the arete;

Me Too (5.9)

and finished the day on the Sunshine Wall on:

Ride'em Cowboy (5.9)--classic route!!

On Sunday, March 21st, returned the SunShine Wall and did:

Party in Your Pants (5.8)--awesome climb with great positions

Hakuna Matata (5.10B)--awesome 5.10; very well bolted with great exposure and meandering moves back and forth across the arete;

Justified Ancients of Mu Mu (5.8)--fun; top half after ledge is the most enjoyable; lower half has some loose areas

Then headed back to our car, but we just had to squeeze in a bit more climbs on the Feathers:

Jesus Saves (5.8)--enjoyable with nice positioning;

Blood Blister (5.10A)--cool climb; sustained; reachy in areas

Alter of Sacrifice (5.7)

Can't wait to go back!

April 24 and 25, 2004

Another great weekend of climbing; did the following routes:

Sunshine Wall:

Under Duress (5.8)

Duress (5.9)--these two can be done in one long pitch with 60 meter rope;

The Manxome Foe (5.10A)

Peaceful Warrior (5.6); actually led 5.10A face;

The Chossmaster (5.7)

Preying Mantel (5.10A)--sweet climb with numerous mantel moves;

Zig Zag Wall:

Orangekist (5.8)

Jeff's Crack (5.8)--fun

Secret Passage (5.10B)--top roped;

Riverview Park:

A Walk in the Park (5.7)

When Angels Dress in Closets Deep (5.4)

Corroding Through Noctural Silk (5.8)

Rock of Sages (5.10B)--fun route with heel hook move off the ground;

Thine Ardent Caress (5.10B)--fun route

Serenity (5.10A)--very fun 10;

Battle of Insecurity (5.8)

Winter Sun and Fun (5.9)

Sweetie (5.9+)--listed as 5.10C in guide book, but a hold has broken off and it is now a 5.9+;

Tunnel Vision (5.8)

Don Coyote (5.8)--by headlamp; enjoyable to climb during the day or at night;

What an incredible area. We did a number of routes on the Sunshine wall from 5.8 to 5.11. The routes were a mix of sport and trad. As a note, Herms Tower has fallen over. The 5.7 chimney behind it is now a solid 5.10c stem problem with long run outs.